Glycerol Ether Composition for Skin Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cosmetic and dermatological products often cause unpleasant skin feelings such as dryness, stickiness, and visible residues due to the use of alcohol- and surfactant-containing products, which also result in a 'whitening' effect, compromising hygiene and skin compatibility.

Innovation Solution

Compositions comprising glycerol ethers combined with diols and/or polyols, specifically glycerol monoalkyl ethers and alkanediols, which provide antimicrobial and regreasing effects while minimizing 'whitening' and improving skin feel, are developed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If alcohol- and surfactant-containing products are used for hygiene and cleansing, then antimicrobial effectiveness is improved, but unpleasant skin feelings such as dryness, stickiness, and visible residues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial effectivenessVSAvoidskin dryness and stickiness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using glycerol ethers (specifically glycerol monoalkyl ethers with C8-C12 alkyl groups) instead of conventional alcohols and surfactants. This parameter change maintains antimicrobial effectiveness while eliminating the harmful skin effects of dryness and stickiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material systems combining glycerol ethers with specific concentrations (1-10% w/w) in aqueous or alcoholic solutions. This composite approach achieves both hygienic effectiveness and skin compatibility that single substances cannot provide alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional preservatives and antimicrobials are used, then microbicidal effect is improved, but whitening effect and unpleasant residue occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobicidal effectVSAvoidwhitening effect

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical substance parameter from conventional preservatives to glycerol monoalkyl ethers, which inherently provide both preservative and cosmetic effects without generating whitening. The specific chain length (C8-C12) is optimized to prevent whitening while maintaining microbicidal activity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If glycerol ethers are used to improve skin feel and reduce whitening, then cosmetic effect is improved, but antimicrobial effectiveness may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin feel and whiteningVSAvoidantimicrobial effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of glycerol ethers to 1-10% w/w, which is the critical range where both cosmetic benefits (improved skin feel, reduced whitening) and antimicrobial effectiveness are simultaneously achieved. Below this range, antimicrobial effect diminishes; above it, cosmetic benefits plateau.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The glycerol monoalkyl ethers serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as preservatives, provide cosmetic benefits by improving skin feel and reducing whitening, and maintain antimicrobial effectiveness. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between cosmetic and hygienic requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8093193B2Composition based on glycerol ether/polyol mixtures

Publication Date: 2012.01.10 ASHLAND SPECIALTIES DEUTSCHLAND GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to compositions which comprise one or more glycerol ethers together with one or more diol/diols and/or polyol/polyols. As a result, as well as good microbicidal effectiveness, whitening is reduced or avoided, drying-out of the skin is prevented, the moisture content is regulated and the skin is regreased to an adequate extent.